Wire stretching clamp



Oct. 12, 1965 F. o. HANDLEY WIRE STRETCHING CLAMP Filed July 24, 1964 l w fla 621.622,

qfi m IN VEN TOR. Q DP/CA O %#0447 United States Patent O 3,211,426 WIRE STRETCHING CLAMP Frederick O. Handley, 444 S. Shaw, Riclmond, Mo. Filed July 24, 1964, Ser. No. 385,020 1 Claim. (Cl. 254-83) The invention relates to improved wire stretchng devices particularly of the type used for stretchng woven wire fencing and the like, in which the wire fencing is clamped between a base plate and a clamping member that provide camming and eccentric action along the surfaces of the co-acting and cooperating parts, and in which the clamping effect is in response to a force supplied to the clamping member usually by tractor so that the force is used to engage and Stretch the wire fencing and without unduly reducing the diameter of the engaged wire or weakening same.

The invention is an improvement over the clamp shown in Patent No. 1,911,274 patented May 30, 1933; my patent applications on Wire Stretching Clamp, Serial No. 230,- 482, filed June 8, 1951, and Serial No. 353,650, filed May 7, 1953, Were abandoned before issuance of patent documents.

In these and other wire stretchng clamps, the prior art provides for effecting a camming and eccentric action which is effected through a substantially small point or surface area of the wire stretchng clamp. Also, the prior art devices effect a type of camming or eccentric action about members that are not always adapted to provide the most efficient and maximum camming and eccentric action.

In the present invention, an object thereof is to provide a wire stretchng clamp having camming and eccentric efiects for achieving the maximum and eflicient clamping effect, and also for providing a draft action which is supplied in the opposite direction to those of the prior art.

An additional object of the present invention is to provide more parts of the clamp formed from castings.

A further object of the invention is to provide a combined camming and eccentric action achieved between the components by the cooperating action of the wire stretchng clamp of the invention.

A further object of the invention is to provide increased working surface areas between C-shaped fingers and arcuate-shaped fingers.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from a detailed description of the invention and from the appended drawing and claim.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the improved wire stretchng clamp in its operative position for stretchng a strip of woven wire fencing and connected to a source of motive power for applying the combined stretchng pull and camming action to the fencing;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view generally illustrating the improved wire stretchng clamp acting on a section of woven wire fencing;

FIGURE 3 is an end sectional View through the improved wire stretchng clamp, and illustrating the wire fencing applied to the base plate structure of the clamp and the arcuate-shaped fingers and C-shaped cam plate thereof prior to applying clamping pressure to the wire fencing; and

3,21l,426 Patented Oct. 12, 1965 FIGURE 4 is a similar end sectional view but taken along lines 4-4 of FIGURE 2 illustrating the improved wire stretchng clamp fully clamped onto the fence as increased stretchng force is applied thereto.

Referring now to the drawing, there is shown a wire stretching clamp 10 generally consisting of an elongated base 12 extending at least the height of the wire fencing which is to be stretched, and a series of extensions forming guide arm means that extend from and are mounted securely upon the forward edge of the base plate 12. The guide arm means are provided for guiding wire fencing 18 over the base plate 12.

The guide arm means may comprise a plurality of spaced fingers 20 that are suitably secured by welding or other means to the base plate 12 at the forward edge thereof, and include a connecting or peripheral guide bar 22. The guide arm means is generally in a parallel plane to that of the base plate 12.

From one side of the leading edge of the base plate 12, there are mounted a plurality of arcuate-shaped fingers 24 which are secured to the base plate by welding or a bolt and nut means, the arcuate portion extending generally rearwardly and the free ends of the arcuateshaped fingers terminating in a nub for forming thereat a cam receiving recess 26.

The cam receiving recess 26 of each of the arcuateshaped fingers 24 is provided so that they are in alignment with each other, and their inner surfaces are defined by a common surface of generation. This is shown generally in each of FIGS. 3 and 4. Thus, the cam receiving recess 26 provides the maximum available surface area of the fingers 24, as Compared with the width dimension of fingers 24, so that the maximum and efficient amount of contact surface area is provided by the cam receiving recess.

A C-shaped cam plate 30 is provided having a head portion 32 for mutually engaging the cam receiving recess 26 of the fingers 24. The distal or other edge portion 36 of the C-shaped cam plate 30 is provided for having hook means 40 upon the edge portion 36 of the interior concave portion of the cam plate. The hooks comprise a pair, as shown in FIG. 1, and a chain 42 is shown connected between the C-shaped cam plate 30 and a tractor 44 for providing a source of motive power in stretchng the wire fencing.

In FIG. 3 there is more particularly shown the manner in which wire fencing is positioned through the wire stretchng clamp when in its loose or released position.

As the C-shaped cam plate 30 is brought into contact with the base plate 12, the fencing 18 that is interposed therebetween is secured tightly by the exertion imposed on the hook means 40 resulting from the forward movement of the tractor.

FIG. 4 shows this clamping effect in improved manner over the prior art, and the camming effect of the cam receiving recess 26 cooperating with the head portion 32 and cam plate 30. The advantages and objects of the invention are apparent and follow from the structural relation of the invention.

It should be understood that the specific apparatus herein illustrated and described is intended to be repreplate extending the height of a wire fence to be stretched sentative only as many changes may be made therein without departing from the clear teachings of the invention. Accordingly, reference should be made to the following claim in determining the full scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

A wire stretching clamp comprsing an elongated base and having a forward edge, guide arm means mounted on the forward edge of said base plate for guiding the fence over the base plate, arcuate shaped fingers mounted on the forward edge of the base plate and extending generally rearwardly, the free ends of the arcuate shaped fingers terminating in a nub forming a cam-receiving recess, a C-shaped cam plate including a convex surface and having a head portion for engaging said cam-receiving 10 recess being C-shaped throughout its length and having the other edge portion disposed for securing hook means thereon, the convex surface of said C-shaped cam plate engaging the base plate to provide a clamping pressure when the hook means are exerted in a rearward direction. 15

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS Johnson.

Clore 254-83 Clark 254-83 Weller 254-83 Raney.

Handley 254-83 Kelsey 254-83 WILLIAM FELDMAN, Prmary Examner.

MILTON S. MEHR, Examiner. 

